RURAL VETERINARY SECRETS 37 



AZOTURIA 



(Often mistaken for inflammation and cong:estion of the 

 kidneys) 



Azoturia is purely a blood disease of a plethoric or hypernu- 

 tritious nature. In other words, the blood is overloaded with nutri- 

 tion, bringing about the unnatural conditions and strange actions 

 of the horse after he has gone a mile or two from home in the 

 best of spirits. The blood in this condition is naturally thicker 

 and slow to return to the heart, which is very active. This tardy 

 return flow causes a dilation of the return blood vessels, most of 

 which lie close to the main nerve trunks. As the vessels expand, 

 the nerve trunks receive extra pressure, which partially, if not 

 entirely, shuts off the impulse and brings about either partial or 

 complete paralysis of the parts involved. These are usually the hind 

 quarters, due to the fact that they are further away from the heart. 

 You will also notice a marked swelling of the muscles involved ; 

 as they become very hard and sensitive. The kidneys, in an en- 

 deavor to assist nature, will absorb some of the blood from these 

 congested regions, which naturally turns the urine to a dirty red 

 or brown color and causes the layman to believe that the kidneys 

 are at fault. 



SYMPTOMS 



This trouble usually follows a period of enforced idleness with 

 a good appetite and rich food. As soon as you notice that the horse 

 begins to lag behind and perspire, you should take a warning that 

 something is wrong. You will next notice him knuckle over in 

 one of his pastern joints. Finally, it attacks both hind quarters, 

 although on rare occasions you may find it in the front quarters. 



TREATMENT 



The horse should be stopped and brought to the nearest barn, 

 where he should be warmly blanketed after the swollen muscles 

 have been thoroughly rubbed with National Electric Cream to keep 

 the blood moving and stimulate the nerve endings to again become 

 active and continue so. The horse should at once be given two 

 ounces of neutrogen in about eight ounces of water. This may 

 be repeated in two hours, when the external application should 

 be repeated. Absolute rest is necessary. Do not attempt to drive 



